Dragons in the Clouds

Dragons in the Clouds by David Blair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.’ - J. R. R. TOLKIEN

Dragons in the Clouds by David Blair is a superbly written and richly descriptive novella with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this mythical fantasy that will guarantee the attention of the younger reader. Skillfully constructed, this fantasy tale will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s also plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel like you are right there in the story.

We’re a big fans of fantasy fiction, so this for us was a phenomenal read. It’s one of those books that stayed with us for several days after we finished reading. I read it to my grandkids, and they loved it. They’re a few years under the recommended age range of 8-12 years, so even younger children will enjoy this amazing story being read to them. The vivid descriptions of the settings, situations, and the people were stunning and realistic. The author’s use of genuine dialogue further added to the overall atmosphere of authenticity.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from David Blair in the future. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me (us!). 

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VIRTUALLY YUMMY: Recipes that Inspire

Virtually Yummy by Uvi Poznansky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A deliciously different kind of book!

VIRTUALLY YUMMY: Recipes that Inspire is a deliciously different kind of book! What makes this recipe book unique is that it contains excerpts by the authors of the High-Tech Crime Solvers series: Uvi Poznansky, Robert I. Katz, Edwin Dasso, P.D. Workman, Jacquie Biggar, Casi McLean, Barbara Ebel, and Libby Fischer Hellman.

The recipes come from their travels around the world, treasured family recipes and even from the adventures of their own characters! It’s a very clever concept and there’s something for everybody here from soups and tarts to main dishes and desserts.

They say variety is the spice of life, so there’s plenty of tasty treasures to be found in this quick, enjoyable and easy read. As well as the other authors, I’m a big fan of Uvi Poznansky so it’s five stars from me.


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Her Eyes Underwater: A True-Crime Inspired Romantic Suspense novel

Her Eyes Under Water by Romona Simon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very impressive debut novel...

Her Eyes Underwater by Romona Simon is a true crime inspired romantic suspense novel set in 1970s Montana. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

Not sure if I’d actually call this a romantic suspense but it was a very enjoyable thriller with elements of mystery, sprinkled with erotica and perhaps a slight touch of the paranormal. Nevertheless, it’s a very impressive debut novel and I’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next from this author.

Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.


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Stars on the Oriental Corridor: Book 1: Heaven by Young-Tae Kim

Stars on the Oriental Corridor: Book 1: Heaven by Young-Tae Kim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very interesting collection of short stories...

Stars on the Oriental Corridor: Book 1: Heaven by Young-Tae Kim is a well written and beautifully illustrated book. The author shares a collection of interesting short stories where the main characters lead their respective countries in politics, religion, industry, science, the arts and the battlefield. It’s an all-encompassing human dramatization that takes the reader on an ancient epic journey of the Far East.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.


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Fly Twice Backward: Fresh Starts in a World of Troubles by David McCracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastically penned story by a very talented author...

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

Fly Twice Backward by David McCracken is a very well written alternate history sci-fi novel. I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. Exciting as it was thought-provoking, the book had humor and romance where the author weaved ‘progressivism, music, movies, and literature into a struggle spanning the globe. Vivid characters propel the action back up through an alternative history toward an uncertain destination.’ It’s been a while since I enjoyed a book this much and couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

There’s something magical about reading fantasy fiction. It speaks to the very thread of my imagination, jolting it to life and transporting it on an exhilarating journey. This book did exactly that. Fans of the Sci-Fi genre will not be disappointed. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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After Olympus by Santiago Xaman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A groundbreaking novel that will have you on the edge of your seat...

After Olympus by Santiago Xaman is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted multi-layered story where the lines of reality and fantasy become blurred. Intriguing twists and turns also ensures that this book will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. From beginning to end, the author holds the reader’s interest.

The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Santiago Xaman pays as much attention to his sentences as he does to his plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. His writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an intriguing atmosphere that will leave you spellbound.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Something About Sammy by Blaine Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A complex theme that makes for interesting reading...

Whenever we face painful situations, especially where a moral dilemma is concerned, we sometimes hold ourselves back as we try and process what's happening. We think we're stuck in indecision because of a particular situation. But the truth is, it isn't the situation at all. It's our ‘energy’ that has become stuck because of the trigger from negative emotions about the situation.

Something About Sammy, as the author states is ‘An emotional story interwoven with the logical and illogical; obsession and indifference; fantasy and reality. A conundrum of unfamiliar and inexplicable sensations and feelings... You’ll enter the world of an older straight man settled into a new community. A man with a history of triumphs, successes, failures and let downs who has always risen out of the ashes.’

The reader will experience the ‘startling shock that engulfs the main protagonist as he becomes infatuated with and consumed by a much younger millennial gay man – a total stranger he has little in common with.’

An unusual, albeit interesting read. Recommended.


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